The huasteca is a culture that developed in a vast region of Mexico shared by the current states of Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Tamaulipas, Querétaro and Puebla; They are descendants of the Maya since they emigrated to the Pánuco River region. The Mexica gave the Huasteca the name of “food land” of Tonacatlalpan due to the fertility that exists in those lands. The Huasteco people did not disappear with the Spanish conquest; their descendants continue live in the region that historically inhabited their ancestors and one of their main traditions is the “Xantolo” (word introduced to Nahuatl by the deformation of the Latin phrase festiumominum sanctorum, which means the feast of all saints) that It is a derivation of Milkailjuitl (pre-Hispanic celebration to worship the dead), a party that year after year the Huastecos make to offer, thank and receive their dead in a very special way
Preparations in some places start from the month of September, but it is from October 28 that everything becomes more festive ending on November 3rd; during those days it is believed that the souls of the deceased visibly return to the world of the living and mingle with each other, so they must be received with respect
To do this, altars are made that are composed of a wooden table in which in each corner is placed a rod that represents the four stages of the life of man: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age, those rods are bent and the tips are attached to form two arches , in which the crossbars signify the passage of the seven mythological rivers where souls are purified, are adorned with cempasúchil flowers and fruits; on the table is placed chopped paper, candles, water, religious images, photographs of the deceased and flowers
October 31is is the day when the dead children are commemorated, a path with cempasúchil flower is made so that they can reach the altar and toys and sweets are placed; for the 1st of November is commemorated the day of Todos Los Santos and it is for the deceased adults, from early they are set candles and placed in the offering tamales, atoles, bread, alcoholic beverages, mole, etc., filling with pleasant aroma every huasteco home;November 2nd is the day of the Faithful Dead and it is when offerings are brought to the pantheons, the tombs are arranged and they enjoy in the cemetery with the souls dancing, singing and eating
During these 4 days of celebration the whole region is filled with algarabía since the deceased are among them, they throw cuetes, ring the bells, pray and dances are performed to the sound of the jarana, the huapanguera guitar and the violin; but just as they believe that the deceased are present, there is also the death who wants to take them back to the other world, so they hide among the living and put on masks so as not to be recognized and enjoy their feast; crews of men dressed as women who dance to the sound of huapangos, steal food from offerings and make mischief; the celebration ends on November 3rd which is when the crews dance all night and at the end they take off the masks
From what you could read it is a beautiful tradition that is worthy of knowing; if you have relatives in that area you should not miss it, and if not, just give us a call and we will take you … “Enjoy and dance, that this life is going to end”
